Perry suspends his GOP run for president

Washington Post

Published 12:31 am, Saturday, September 12, 2015

St. Louis

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who sought political redemption after a humiliating campaign for the White House four years ago, announced Friday that he was suspending his candidacy for the 2016 Republican nomination, becoming the first casualty in the combustible and crowded contest.

Perry served for 14 years as governor of the Lone Star State — longer than anyone in history — and he governed during a time of robust job growth in Texas. He entered the 2016 race hoping the voters would give him a second chance. But he bowed out 101 days after announcing his second candidacy.

At a speech to the Eagle Forum on Friday in St. Louis, Perry called himself "a blessed man" who was leaving the playing field with "no regrets."

Perry's departure is likely to have little effect on the overall race for the nomination. Sixteen candidates remain, with Donald Trump the clear front-runner and Ben Carson running a strong second in a year that has turned out to be far more favorable to outsiders than to traditional politicians.